What are the top 5 tips you would give an incoming SA? Forum

[thesealocust]

Attorney lunches are for summers to get out of the office, explore the surroundings, and dine with attorneys at the firm. Traditionally it's used for summers to get to know various practice areas, departments, and people in the firm. The actual policy is one of great gossip and drama, as every firm sets a different limit/guideline, and it's fertile ground for accusing firms of being cheap or praising them for showering summers with even more wealth than usual. It's common for it to include groups of summers and associates.

I'd hesitate to consider it "treating them to lunch" - though obviously that's more or less what it boils down to. Just think of it as a part of the program that involves you getting to ask more questions but also learn more about the people and culture of the firm in an informal setting. You shouldn't look at it as something in your control to give out to those who win your favor or something like that. It's common for associates to ask summers out to lunch as well.

Likewise, whatever the limit is, try not to develop a reputation for (a) exceeding it or (b) strategically using the absolute weekly maximum. It all boils down to treating the summer as a professional work experience, rather than treating the summer like a chance to beat the firm like a pinata spewing out dollar bills.

[What the f.supp?]

Thanks so much!

Yeah, I can't even imagine how one could spend even close to $55 for a lunch not involving alcohol (even in DC)....

[thesealocust]

Thanks so much!

Yeah, I can't even imagine how one could spend even close to $55 for a lunch not involving alcohol (even in DC)....

$10-15 appetizer, $20-30 lunch, $10 desert gets you to about 40-45, which would be at or over budget after tax & tip. Also, many of the policies include dinners - though I imagine those are more rare, as by dinner time people are pretty focused on finishing up and heading out.

$55/lunch unlimited is definitely on the generous end, though I've heard of $65 and $75 per meal limits at some NYC firms (usually a limited total number amount spent or number of meals per week, however).

[Moxie]

Even in week one of my SA, I'm stunned with how much the associates and partners eat during lunch. I always thought my firm's $75 lunch limit was just a way to attract law students, but on all three lunches I went to, the attorneys each wracked up bills near or at the limit.

[Anonymous User]

Hey thanks anony.

I'm sure this has already been addressed somewhere in the annals of TLS, but I start 2L SA tomorrow and I'm often grappling with the seeming paradox of on one hand being eager to work hard/stay late but on other, not coming off as a jackass brown nose/gunner. It seems to be a really fine line.

I really like the work I'll be doing, and since I just moved some 500 miles from MA to DC (and have like one friend here) I would be totally cool with working into the evenings. I would really appreciate any practical advice based on prior experience, preferably in larger private firms (only if there is a difference between small, large, gov't jobs in this regard). Oh what the hell, even if not based on prior experience, I am all ears to logical ideas.

It depends on your firm. It's not that fine of a line for my firm, because we are assigned work and the department has way too much work and probably not enough summers to do the work. Plus, nobody actually sees us stay late. There's not that much required face time at my firm. Nobody keeps track of when you arrive or leave. The only people who know when you arrive and leave are associates you befriend who sit near your office.

I stay late at the office because we are not allowed to take e-documents home with us. Otherwise, I would work from home.

[Renzo]

Thanks so much!

Yeah, I can't even imagine how one could spend even close to $55 for a lunch not involving alcohol (even in DC)....

Yeah... it's not that hard in NYC or DC; at least not at the places other attorneys in the office will be inviting you to.

[thesealocust]

Thanks so much!

Yeah, I can't even imagine how one could spend even close to $55 for a lunch not involving alcohol (even in DC)....

Yeah... it's not that hard in NYC or DC; at least not at the places other attorneys in the office will be inviting you to.

To: all.attorneys@lawfirm.com
From: thesealocust@lawfirm.com
Subject: Anybody for lunch?
-----

Hey everyone! The chipotle across the street is featuring a new meat (chorizo!) this week. Any associates available for an associates lunch? I figure we can each buy 8 or 9 burritos, and then sell the extras around the corner for some spending money. Hit me up!

~TSL

[Renzo]

Thanks so much!

Yeah, I can't even imagine how one could spend even close to $55 for a lunch not involving alcohol (even in DC)....

Yeah... it's not that hard in NYC or DC; at least not at the places other attorneys in the office will be inviting you to.

To: all.attorneys@lawfirm.com
From: thesealocust@lawfirm.com
Subject: Anybody for lunch?
-----

Hey everyone! The chipotle across the street is featuring a new meet (chorizo!) this week. Any associates available for an associates lunch? I figure we can each buy 8 or 9 burritos, and then sell the extras around the corner for some spending money. Hit me up!

~TSL

You're a coward if you don't send that, and I'll be watching ATL to verify.

[thesealocust]

Thanks so much!

Yeah, I can't even imagine how one could spend even close to $55 for a lunch not involving alcohol (even in DC)....

Yeah... it's not that hard in NYC or DC; at least not at the places other attorneys in the office will be inviting you to.

To: all.attorneys@lawfirm.com
From: thesealocust@lawfirm.com
Subject: Anybody for lunch?
-----

Hey everyone! The chipotle across the street is featuring a new meet (chorizo!) this week. Any associates available for an associates lunch? I figure we can each buy 8 or 9 burritos, and then sell the extras around the corner for some spending money. Hit me up!

~TSL

You're a coward if you don't send that, and I'll be watching ATL to verify.

We had an entire portion of our training dedicated to the axiom: Whatever else you do, do not make above the law

[Anonymous User]

Shameless thread necromancy for this summers batch of nervous incoming SAs? Lead us to the promised land ye wise holders of the sought after offers!

[Anonymous User]

It all boils down to treating the summer as a professional work experience, rather than treating the summer like a chance to beat the firm like a pinata spewing out dollar bills.

Great mental image.

[Anonymous User]

Shameless thread necromancy for this summers batch of nervous incoming SAs? Lead us to the promised land ye wise holders of the sought after offers!

Thanks for necromancing this thread! Bring on the knowledge!

[Julio_El_Chavo]

Shameless thread necromancy for this summers batch of nervous incoming SAs? Lead us to the promised land ye wise holders of the sought after offers!

1. Don't be weird
2. Don't be a douchebag
3. Don't make it obvious that you ultimately want to live in a city other than where you'll be working over the summer and/or that you're definitely going to follow your SO's career to wherever he/she lands a job
4. Be nice and friendly to everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, who works in your office including support staff
5. Do your very best, flawless work

[Ludo!]

Great thread, (minus the drinking derail).

[chickenalfredo]

Tagged for later

[Anonymous User]

Shameless thread necromancy for this summers batch of nervous incoming SAs? Lead us to the promised land ye wise holders of the sought after offers!

3. Don't make it obvious that you ultimately want to live in a city other than where you'll be working over the summer and/or that you're definitely going to follow your SO's career to wherever he/she lands a job

how careful do you have to be about this? unacceptable to have a facebook s/o that seems pretty situated in a different city?

[skw]

Tagging -- this is helpful, thanks.

[Julio_El_Chavo]

Shameless thread necromancy for this summers batch of nervous incoming SAs? Lead us to the promised land ye wise holders of the sought after offers!

3. Don't make it obvious that you ultimately want to live in a city other than where you'll be working over the summer and/or that you're definitely going to follow your SO's career to wherever he/she lands a job

how careful do you have to be about this? unacceptable to have a facebook s/o that seems pretty situated in a different city?

If your firm is like mine, it will do everything it can to get you to spill the beans about what your long-term plans are and where you want to live long-term.

[holdencaulfield]

Shameless thread necromancy for this summers batch of nervous incoming SAs? Lead us to the promised land ye wise holders of the sought after offers!

3. Don't make it obvious that you ultimately want to live in a city other than where you'll be working over the summer and/or that you're definitely going to follow your SO's career to wherever he/she lands a job

how careful do you have to be about this? unacceptable to have a facebook s/o that seems pretty situated in a different city?

If your firm is like mine, it will do everything it can to get you to spill the beans about what your long-term plans are and where you want to live long-term.

+1

[llachans]

A lot of people mentioned drinking a beer while out. What about sipping on one mixed drink? Just curious because I'm gluten free and a lot of time gluten free beer isn't available.

Weirder to be the only one drinking hard alcohol among beer drinkers or to be the only one drinking soda among beer drinkers?

[shoeshine]

A lot of people mentioned drinking a beer while out. What about sipping on one mixed drink? Just curious because I'm gluten free and a lot of time gluten free beer isn't available.

Weirder to be the only one drinking hard alcohol among beer drinkers or to be the only one drinking soda among beer drinkers?

You must be real fun at parties.

(I posted this same comment in this same thread 11 months ago. Nothing changes.)

[Renzo]

A lot of people mentioned drinking a beer while out. What about sipping on one mixed drink? Just curious because I'm gluten free and a lot of time gluten free beer isn't available.

Weirder to be the only one drinking hard alcohol among beer drinkers or to be the only one drinking soda among beer drinkers?

I don't drink beer. Not because I have a sissy digestive system or anything, but because it's for plebes. I was fine, and you will be too.

[5ky]

.

[NotMyRealName09]

A lot of people mentioned drinking a beer while out. What about sipping on one mixed drink? Just curious because I'm gluten free and a lot of time gluten free beer isn't available.

Weirder to be the only one drinking hard alcohol among beer drinkers or to be the only one drinking soda among beer drinkers?

Frankly, I'd be impressed. Don't make a show of it, just order a drink, and if its mentioned, just say "thats how I roll." My opinion is its weirder to be the pop drinker than the booze drinker.

But I'd leave out the why part, unless you work with people who take their medical advice from former playboy bunny Jenny McCarthy, or unless you have been diagnosed (self-diagnosis doesn't count) with celiac disease by a non-quack doctor.

[Anonymous User]

any advice on how to answer a question regarding why your grades dropped during 2L?